Assembly apparatus for cast lines of type



I United States Patent 11113,550,760

[72] Inventors Jack S.Troeger [56] ReferencesCited South Bend: UNITEDSTATES PATENTS N $33; Femi'm'shawakalnd- 935.543 9/1909 Pearce m1.199/61 gm- 1261968 1,085,567 1/1914 l-lartmann... 199/61 [21 d 9701,145,359 7/1915 Drewell 199/18 [45] i &c any l,l5l,6l2 8/1915 Price199/61 [731 25:; m 1,871,330 8/1932 Marlott 199/61x 1,925,968 9/1933Padgettetal. 199/61 aw'parners 3,071,241 1/1963 CoffieldetaL. 199/613,143,203 8/1964 Sterling 199/61 [54] ASSEMBLY APPARATUS FOR CAST LINESOF TYPE 1 Claim, 19 Drawing Figs.

[52] [1.8. CI 199/61; 199/ 1 [5l] ]nt.Cl. B41b 9/16 [50] Field ofSearch199/1, 61, 18

Primary Examiner-Edgar S. Burr Attorney-Eugene C. Knoblock ABSTRACT:Apparatus for assembling line typecastings issuing from a plurality oftypecasting machines each having a chute connected thereto for guidingsaid castings from the machines to a conveyor which carries the castingsto an assembly table on which they are deposited between retainers atpredetermined positions, each correlated with a selected typecastingmachine whereby the castings from each machine are sequentiallypositioned in a group different from the grouped castings from othermachines.

PATENTEDUmzsmm BL-550.750

SHEET 3 UP 5 c/ACK 5. TROEGER RUDOLPH FERM/ ATTORNEY SUMMARY OF THEINVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus-for a ssemblingprinting line typecastings issuing from linotype or similar typecastingmachines.

The apparatus of this invention, comprises a support frame mdunting anassembly table, a typecasting transporting means discharging at aplurality of different parts bfsaid assembly table and connected to aplurality of typecasting machines for transporting typecastings issuingfrom each'of said machines to a predetermined part of said assemblytable, said assembly table having mounted thereon a plurality 'ofretaining means each holding successively accumulated castings from onemachine only in an aligned sequential relationship, and means foradvancing each group of accumulated castings to accommodate successivereceipt of additional castings from said transporting means andpositioning all castings from each machine in an aligned sequentialrelationship.

Previously, printing line typecastings were manually veyor assemblyshown in FIG. l4;

gathered from each of a group of typecasting] machines and then wereassembled manually into printing columns or groups. On occasion, atypecasting would be mispositioned with resultant error of the materialprinted therefrom, or a requirement to correct the error manually ifdetected.

The apparatus of this invention automatically collects and assembles incorrect sequence at a single work station the typecastings which issuefrom each of a plurality of typecast ing machines. The typecastings neednot be manually handled until afier they have been assembled into columnprinting groups. Thus the services of only one person in addition to thelinotype operators is required to prepare assembled groups oftypecastings.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a means forautomatically assembling printing line typecastings.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a means forautomatically assembling line typecastings into column printing groupsas they are discharged from a plurality of typecasting machines.

Further objects of this invention 'will become apparent upon a readingof the inventions's description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION-OF THE DRAWINGS The preferred embodiment of this'invention has been chosen for the purposes of illustration anddescription wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the assembly device ofthis invention;

FIG. 1A is a detail perspective view of a part of the device;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the assembly device of FIG. 1;3 g

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the assembly table of thisinvention asviewed along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; 1

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary front elevation of the casting distributionassembly as viewed along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary detail side view of a portion of the castingdistribution assembly as viewed along line 5-5 of FIG FIG. 6 is afragmentary detail sectional view of the discharge end of the conveyortaken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the conveyor as viewed alongline 7-7 of FIG. 2; 1

FIG. 8 is a detail sectional 'view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7 andshowing the actuating mechanism of electrical switches used in thedevice;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional viewof the switch actuating mechanismtaken along line 9-9 of'FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary top plan v'iewof the castingdistributionassembly mechanism in one operating position, with parts broken away;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of the casting distributionassembly mechanism in another operating position;

FIG. 12 is a detail sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of the typecastingshiftingmechanism taken along line 13-13 of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary perspective view conveyor assembly used in thedevice; I

FIG. -1 is a fragmentary side elevation on the FIG. 16 is a fragmentarytop plan view of the conveyor and chute assemblies with parts shown insection taken along line Y DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTThepreferred embodiment-of the device is here illustrated but is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precisestructure disclosed. It is chosen and described inv order to bestexplain the principles of the invention and itsapplication and practicaluse to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize theinvention.

The line typecasting assembly device 10 of this invention consists of achute assembly for conveying the line typecastingsv 1l issuing. fromeach of several typecasting machines to a conveyor transporting themalong one of a plurality of selected paths to a selected portion of anassembly table correlated with the machine which produced the castingand at which the castings from that machine are sequentially grouped asrequired to print a column.

CI-IUTE ASSEMBLY A downwardly inclined trough or chute 12, U-shaped incross section, is connected atits receiving end to the discharge endof alinotype or similar typecasting machine (not shown); The receiving endof chute 12 is positioned in proper position andelevation by brackets 14whichare secured to the frame of the typecasting machine. Depending uponthe relative location of the typecastingmachine from the linetypecasting assembly device 10, chute 12 may be formed in a straightline or, as shown in FIGS. 1, 14 and 17, may contain curved sections 13.Each chute 12 has a bottom web 44' and side flanges 42.- The chutes maybe of one piece construction or may consist of a plurality ofinterfitting sections held together by a connector means 15 as shown inFIGS. 14 and 15'and which may be of any construction desired. Forlargeprinting operations which utilize a plurality of typecasting machines,achute 12 will be connected to each section machine. Each cute chute l2discharges line typecastings onto a conveyor 16'.

I CONVEYOR ASSEMBLY Conveyor 16 includes a channel member 20 having abase 28 and sides 29. The channel 20 has a substantially horizontalportion 31 extending alongside one or more typecasting machines andpositioned below, the level of the discharge end of said machines, andan upwardly inclined portion 32 whose end preferably terminates adjacentthe uppermost edge 33 of an inclined assembly table 30. The inclinedportion 32 of channel member 20 includes plates 34 which are secured toits sides 29 and which preferably extend below its base 28. Inclinedchannel portion 32 is positioned adjacent a comer of the uppermost partof assembly table 30 by a brace 38 mounted as shown in FIG. 2 secured toan extending between the side panel 40' of the support for table 30 anda channel sideplate 34. Disposed within channelmember 20 andiextendinglongitudinally thereof are a plurality of spaced parallel partitions orguides 18. Guides 18 are mounted in spaced relation above the base 28 ofchannel members 20 and define spaced longitudinal passages 22 in thechannel. Any convenient means may be used to support and space theguides 18, such as inverted U-shaped or arch members 36 spaced along theto suspend the guides 18.

of a chute and chute and con- Each chute 12 discharges into a passage22. The side flanges 42 of the discharge end of each chute 12 lie in thesame plane as and have their lower ends engaging the top edge ofadjacent guides 18. The base 44 of the chute may extend into the passage22 between the cooperating guides to terminate at approximately thelevel of the bottom edges of the guides 18 as shown in FIG. 15. Thedischarge end of chute 12 may be connected to the conveyor at guides 18and at channel 20 in any convenient manner, as by means of a pin 25passing through one or more brackets 26 projecting from guides 18 orchannel 20 and through one or more brackets 24 carried by and projectingfrom the chute.

A gate member 23 is preferably provided adjacent the junction of eachchute and conveyor. Gate 23 preferably consists of an L-shaped rodhaving an upright portion joumaled to a guide 18 and a lower horizontalportion extending diagonally across the adjacent passage 22. The gatemember is biased in a passage-spanning position by a spring 27, as shownin FIGS. 14, and 16.

A transverse shaft 46 is journaled in sideplates 34 below the channelbase at the discharge end of the inclined portion 32 of channel 20. Asprocket 48 is fixedly mounted upon shaft 46 and is so positionedbetween sideplates 34 that the channel base 28 is substantially tangentto the upper peripheral portion of the sprocket. A similar sprocket (notshown) is joumaled at the opposite end of channel rearward of thedischarge ends of chutes 12. An endless metal link belt 50 is trainedabout said sprockets. The upper run 51 of belt 50 preferably rides uponchannel base 28 and is spaced below the guides 18. Transverse lugs 52project outwardly from the exterior face of belt 50 at selectedlongitudinal intervals, with the top edges of said lugs 52 along upperrun 51 passing below the bottom edges of the guides 18. Although it ispreferable to use a link belt, a flat belt trained about pulley memberscould be utilized in the alternative.

Shaft 46 has an extended end portion projecting outwardly from asideplate 34 and upon which is mounted a drive pulley 54. The other endof shaft 46 is connected to a motor means (not shown) preferably locatedwithin support frame 39 of table 30. A shaft 58 substantially parallelto and disposed below shaft 46 is journaled to support frame 39 andmounts a driven pulley 56 upon its outwardly projecting end portion. Aflexible endless drive member 60 is trained about pulleys 54 and 56.

ASSEMBLY TABLE The assembly table 30 has an inclined top 62 which ismounted upon a supporting frame 39 preferably constituting a cabinethaving side panels 40. A plurality of parallel guides 68 are positionedupon the top 62 at one end thereof and adjacent the discharge end ofconveyor 16. Each table guide 68 is aligned with a conveyor guide 18.The guides 68 vary in length as can best be seen in FIG. 3, with theirupper ends adjacent the ends of guides 18. Positioned across the tabletop 62 are substantially parallel horizontal retainer members 66.Retainers 66 are spaced apart a distance greater than the length of atypecasting 11 and are connected to a plate 70 which is mounted alongthe side 63 of table top 62 which is remote from guides 68. Theoutermost table guide 68' ter minates'with its lower end in an abuttingright-angle relationship with the lowermost retainer 66 and may besecured thereto. The lower end of each of the remaining guides 68likewise abuts a retainer 66, as shown in FIG. 3. Adjacent retainers 66,plate 70, and the lower part of each table guide 68 define a compartment64 which communicates with a passage formed between adjacent tableguides 68 and aligned with a passage 22 of the conveyor.

TYPECASTING DISTRIBUTION ASSEMBLY Each table guide 68 is cut away at 74at its lower end portion. A member 72 is located within each cutout 74,being disposed approximately midway between adjacent retainers 66, asshown in FIG. 11. Each member 72 is pivoted to a guide 68 in the planeof said guide by means of a depending pin 76 at its uppermost end. Pin76 is journaled within a concentric bushing 78 which is disposed in anaperture 80 in the table top 62 and is carried by a plate 82 secured atthe underside of the top 62 by means such as screws 64. A pin 86 dependsfrom an intermediate part of each member 72 and passes through 'a slotor aperture 88 in table top 62. A disc 90 is preferably jour naled oneach pin 86 below table top 62. The inward face of each member 72preferably is beveled at 73 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11.

A plurality of spaced transverse actuators or pusher rods 92 passthrough bushing 94 carried by or mounted within openings in a sideplate96 of table top 62 proximate the members 72. The inner end of each rod92 is slotted and tits around a part of the adjacent disc 90 and ispreferably pinned thereto. A collar or retainer 98 is preferably mountedabout the outer end portion of rod 92. Disposed about rod 92 andcompressed between retainer 98 and side plate 96 is a biasing coilspring A substantially vertical rocker member or lever 110, preferablyhaving diverging arms 128, is pivotally mounted intermediate the lengthof its arms between two support members 112 which project from the sidepanel 40 of table 30, as by a pivot pin 114 carried by the frame members112 and journaled in aligned apertures (not shown) in rocker arms 128.

The lower end of rocker member journals a cam follower roller 116.Pulley 56 carries a concentric cylindricalor skirt portion 118 having anundulating cam-defining edge portion 120 as best shown in FIG 1A, whichengages the cam follower roller 116. Spring members 124 (one shown)serve to urge cam follower roller 116 into engagement with skirt portion118. As here shown, the spring members 124 are coil springs locatedabove the level of pin 114 and are each connected at one end to an upperpart of a rocker arm 128 and at the other end to a bolt or anchor 122,adjustably'mounted on or secured to side panel 40.

A plate or carrier 126 is mounted upon and spans the spaced upper endsof arms 128 of rocker member 110. A plurality of solenoids 130 aremounted upon carrier 126. Each solenoid 130 is located adjacent theoutwardly projecting end of a pusher rod 92. Each solenoid has a plunger132 movable in a direction transverse to a rod 92 and has pivotallyconnected thereto at 134 a pusher lever 136 which is shiftable within aslot 138 of carrier 126 as shown in FIG. 5. A coil spring 140 preferablyis connected at one end to an upstand ing part 142 projecting abovecarrier 126 and at its other end to the pusher lever at a point 144spaced above and laterally from the plunger pivot 134. Each solenoid 130is connected in an electrical circuit to be controlled by a switch 144actuated by a trip member 146 pivoted to a guide 18 adjacent thedischarge end of the conveyor.

OPERATION The device functions as follows: line typecastings 11 aredischarged from the typecasting machines into the respective chutes 12connected thereto and slide on edge by gravity into a conveyor passageand onto the driven link belt 50 whose upper run travels beneath theconveyor guides 18 of the conveyor channel member 20. As each casting iscarried along in its proper passage 22 by link belt 50 between guides18, it engages the gate 23 in that passage which serves to retain orretard advance of the casting allowing the belt 50 to slide full lineposition to the dotted line position in FIG. 5. This shifts the lever136 from a position offset from the pusher rod to a position confrontingthe end of the pusher rod 92. During operation of the device 10, theskirt portion 118 of pulley 56 is rotated to continuously oscillate therocker member 110 and solenoid carrier 126. If the plunger 132 of anysolenoid 130 is retracted, as the rocker member 110 oscillates, theassociated pusher lever 136 contacts the outer end of pusher rod 92 asshown in dotted lines in FIG. 12 andtmoves said rod endwise and inwardlyagainst the action of spring 100. This movement of rod 92 swingsinwardly the member 72 to the position shown in FIG. 11 therebylaterally shifting those line typecastings 11 previously assembled inthe correlated compartment 64 to clear the passage leading to saidcompartment for receipt of the oncoming typecasting 11 whose advance hadtripped the solenoid which activated the pusher rod 92. After apredetermined period of time and prior to the arrival of the typecasting11 at the table compartment 64 the solenoid 130 is deactivated and itsplunger 132 is retracted allowing pusher lever 136 to assume its normalposition out of alignment with pusher rod 92 and permitting rod 92 to beurged by spring 100 to its extended position which permits pivotalmember 72 to return to alignment with guide 68.

Each individual typecasting ll discharged by conveyor 16 upon assemblytable 30 slides downwardly upon the inclined table between guides 68into engagement with a correlated retainer 66. A backup member 148preferably projects into each compartment 64 and slides upon a retainer66 to abut the assembled typecasting 11 in said compartment and maintainthem in an upright position.

To prevent jamming between rod 92 and pusher lever 136 should thesolenoid 130 be actuated while carrier 126 is at its most proximaterelation to table 30, the spring 140 will yield when pusher lever 136 ispivoted by the solenoid.

It will be understood that the invention is not to be limited to thedetails herein given but may be modified within the scope of theappended claim.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for assembling line typecastings produced by a pluralityof typecasting machines comprising;

an inclined assembly table;

means on said table defining a plurality of compartments each forretaining assembled line typecastings in an aligned sequentialrelationship; 7

means for receiving and transportingto said table individual castingsdischarged from said casting machines and including parts for separatingthose castings of one typecasting machine from those' castings ofanother typecasting machine;

means on said table for guiding the advance of the castings from saidreceiving and transporting means to said compartments wherein thosecastings from one typecasting machine will be guided into onecompartment and those castings from another typecasting machine will beguided into another compartment, said guide means including elongatedspaced inclined members forming passages for receiving and guiding thecastings discharged by said receiving and transporting'mean s, saidguide members being of different lengths, said compartment definingmeans extending transversely of said guide means and constituting spacedmembers projecting'from the lower ends of said guide members; and

means for advancing the castings in said compartments including memberspivoted to said table, each pivoted member normally aligned with one ofsaid guide means at the end of a compartment, an actuating means incooperation with each pivoted member for swinging the cooperatingpivoted member into its associated compartment to advance the castingstherein, said table having a plurality of slots, each pivoted memberincludinga depending part projecting through a slot in the table, saidpivoted member-actuatin means including a rod slidable relative to saidtable and aving one end engaging the depending part of said cooperatingpivoted member and having its other end extending beyond the outline'ofsaid table, said rod being shiftable into said table from an inoperativeposition to cause the swinging of said cooperating pivoted member, aspring means for urging said rod to its inoperative position, a rockablemember pivotally mounted to said table, means for continuously shiftingsaid rockable member, rod-pushing means carried by said rockable memberand shiftable into a position aligned with said rod to engage the otherend of said rod and advance said rod into said table against said springmeans incident to the shifting of said rockable member, and means forshifting said rod-pushing means into alignement with said rod.

